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So it's been a while since I've done a Made by Me post. I seem to go through fads with my creativity focusing on one technique at a time. My current obsession is with machine embroidery / applique which I've been using for my latest set of birthday cards to give to friends and family.

First up I made this Great Tit for my dad's birthday which was back in April! That's how long it's taken me to share with you!

Look I even managed a work in progress image as I loved the simplicity of the shape

I'd made this for Fathers Day which was back in June

Bizarrely I think my favourite bit is the blue bead for his eye! How weird is that!

Fathers Day always leaves me with an annual problem as my mum's birthday is also in June so I need a double dose of inspiration in one month which I sometimes struggle with. But I was really happy with this green woodpecker

And so I found myself on a roll with this racing horse for my niece's birthday in July. I was really happy with this one (she works for a racing trainer).

And finally I'm going to end with a few clothes I made. First up is my first Sew Over It Betty Dress which was a dream to make. Such a good pattern, with clear instructions and even videos to help with the making process. It's available as both a paper and PDF pattern. Annoyingly I've made it slightly too big so need to figure out how to do a few nip and tucks but too big is better than too small I recon. I was hoping to take a picture of this in the garden but it was so windy I had to resort to the corridor outside my flat so apologies for the drab backdrop.

And yes, yet another Merchant and Mills top with fabric I got for my birthday. This is such a great pattern.

The pattern is a little crazy (lots and lots of buildings) but really works as a top

Here's a detail shot for you! So there we have it - the latest creative output. Hopefully the next wait won't be as long though at the moment I'm frantically making 4 crocheted baby blankets all due in July / August.

We're back again to OH and I's recent holiday to the Netherlands. When we were in Holland we spent the day with OH's dad who lives close to Amsterdam. He took us for a trip up to IJMuiden (pronounced Iron Maiden) for a tour of the port up there. It's a huge port at the mouth of the Amsterdam canal and North Sea. Despite being an industrial landscape the sky was a clear blue and the tour even included a short trip out into the North Sea. Here is what we saw:

First up a quick couple of shots from OH's dad's home which depicts a typical Dutch landscape. So tranquil

Certainly wasn't the obvious choice for a day out but it certainly made a change from the usual tourist track in Amsterdam and the weather made it a perfect day.

I found the lure back to the Country Show too strong so found myself back again, meeting friends and watching fire, quidditch, more sheep and spotting a Radio 4 comedy hero (spotted in the Save Our Libraries pictre). Here are some of my favourites images from Day 2. You can also see more coverage of the Show on Brixton Buzz including a piece by me (hurrah!)

July isn't July without the Lambeth Country Fair. I've been going off and on for 19 years now and I love it. Reminds me of the shows I used to go to when I was a kid back up in rural Cumbria. As you can see there were blue skies, flowers, colour, stunt riders, RHS, farm animals and owls to name just a few. Brace yourself - there are a lot of pictures......